Critics: White's email blurs Jindal's transparency

Jul. 3, 2012

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Hunter

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State Rep. Marcus Hunter calls personal emails from Superintendent John White to Gov. Bobby Jindal's staff before a May senate committee hearing "high-grade deception" and "an effort to deceive not only the legislators, but the people of the state of Louisiana."

Hunter, D-Monroe, was one of many elected officials reacting to a Monday News-Star article that detailed White's communications through personal email with Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin and policy adviser Stafford Palmieri as he created a plan to "muddy up a narrative" and to "take some air out of the room" after a May News-Star report about the state's new voucher program.

"Our governor has held himself out to be someone of zero tolerance as it relates to corruption or lack of ethics in government," Hunter said. "He has made exceptions for those in his inner circle. I look forward to him asserting his zero tolerance policy, including removing those who have compromised his position, including White."

The News-Star's May article described the conditions at a Ruston School, New Living Word, which was approved to accept 315 students as part of the state's scholarship program, but didn't have the facilities to accommodate the students. The state's approval process did not include site visits.

After the article published, White announced to the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Phase II of the process, which included site visits for schools accepting large numbers of students.

The night before White's appearance before the committee, his email describes how he will "create a news story" by releasing a communication to schools regarding a timeline for student assignment.

"This will allow us to kill multiple birds with one stone," White writes. "It would allow us to talk through the process with the media, muddying up a narrative they're trying to keep black and white."

Sen. Rick Gallot, D-Ruston, said the article on the email communications details "what we've all known is taking place."

"This administration is all about transparency for everyone but themselves," he said. "We all know they communicate by their personal emails. It isn't about creating sound policy. It's about spinning and winning."

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Rep. Katrina Jackson, D-Monroe, said she is disappointed in what the emails revealed, but she believes making decisions regarding White's continued employment are Jindal's responsibility.

"It is my prayer that as we defer to the governor on this he will make the right decision on how to handle this in the best interest of the people of Louisiana," she said. Rep. Jim Fannin, D-Jonesboro, said the emails made him consider whether communications from White will be as forthcoming as he hoped they would.

"I had hoped we had just gotten rid of one (superintendent) whose relationships were not good," he said. "The last one seemed not to want to be up front. I hoped this one would be different, but after The News-Star's story, I'm questioning whether it will be any different with this one."

Rep. Bubba Chaney, R-Rayville, and Sen. Francis Thompson, D-Delhi, both said the email is part of the overall process for developing the reform program.

"Anytime you go before a committee, especially a confirmation hearing, you would want to be prepared to the ultimate and not be caught off guard," Chaney said.

"I don't put a lot of stock in emails because it's hard," Thompson said. "People try to shorten their words. I'm not defending anyone, but the language they use in the email might be a little different from what I might use. Some of that language, I probably wouldn't have used. I don't want to be judgmental at this point.

Sen. Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe, said he believes The New-Star's reporting on the state's education reform initiatives, including the email article, has helped to develop the process.

"I think the article written about the Ruston school showed flaws in the system and will truly make the system better," he said. "They were probably trying to do some damage control. They were caught off guard and it showed in committee, but it doesn't necessarily mean evil was done."

Board of Elementary and Secondary member Jay Guillot of Ruston said BESE will likely discuss the email communication.

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"In all of my interaction with White, I have found him to be straightforward and wanting to do the right thing," he said. "I have no reason to think that the eligibility criteria would not have been taken care of by BESE after the legislative session."

The News-Star asked the governor's office for comment on whether any actions will be taken because of White's email communication and whether it is common for government business to be done on personal email accounts.

Plotkin responded with the following:

"From the very beginning, the Department of Education said they would be putting together a plan that would give more choices to families and use taxpayer dollars more effectively. The Department's announcement in late May was part of that process. Also, folks occasionally work from home and use personal email."

Monday night, White said the scholarship process could have been more fully explained initially. "(I) could have said more explicitly there would be changes, but in the enrollment process, you always know you will have to make adjustments," he said. "No one knows that better than the schools."